Storage battery.



PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905.

G. K. HARTUNG. STORAGE BATTERY. APPLIOATIQN FILED APLao, 1904.

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/1 11 11/ 1l Il/1 /1 @Miroir/neu No. 797,110. PATENTBD AUG. 15, 1905. G.K. HARTUNG.

STORAGE BATTERY. v APPLIOATION FILED APR. so, 1904. MHBETS MEET 2.

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,f Fig@ @13 @Hom/l l l I mcnlw. n emma to. vnomunmanunns. msmnnmu, uV cNo. 'NT/Alli?. PATBNTED AUG., 19 1905. G. IL HARTUNG. STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLICATIDI FILED APR. 30, 1904:.

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STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLIoATIoN FILED APB. so. 1001.

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UNITED STATES GUSTAVE K. HARTUNG, OF NET YRK, N. Y.

eren/tee eAr'renY.

No. '797, l 1.0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Appiioiiiioii filed Api-i130l 1904. sei-in No. 205,764.

To cil/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 'L GUs'rAvn K. l-Linfrune, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany., residing at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StorageBatteries, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspeciiication.

This invention relates to storage batteries of the Faure type, and moreparticularly to im proVements in the construction of the grid orsupporting' structure for the active material, whereby a lighter batteryis secured having increased output and durability. Batteries of thissystem are objectionable because of the tendency of the active materialto become detached from the supporting structure or grid by expansionand contraction in charging and discharging, and also because the griditself, being' usually made of lead, is disintegrated by electrolyticaction and gradually disintegrates with continued use. These lead platesor grids are furthermore objectionable because of their lowconductivity, which necessitates a large increase in weight. Theseobjections render this type of battery unreliable and open to seriousobjection in commercial service and their economic life uncertain.

The objects of this invention are to provide means for overcoming theaforesaid objections and to provide an improved supporting-frame for thebattery elements in which the parts subject to renewal shall be reducedto a minimum. To accomplish these objects, i propose to do away with theuse of metallic grids for supporting the active material and instead toplace the active material in expansible tubes suitably mounted in framesand electrically connected to the terminals of the battery. Preferablythe tubes will be composed of non-conducting acid-proof material, andcarbonrods will be embedded in the active material to conduct thecurrent to and from the elements. The use of carbon in this connectionis especially advantageous, as it is a good conductor and is notattacked by the electrolytic action. The frame is composed ofnon-conducting acid proof material and supports the tubes containing theactive material. The ends of the carbon rods project through the sidesof the frame and are electrically connected together by conductorscarried by the frame which are led to the bat tery-terminals. In thismanner a battery is provided which contains little or no metal and whichis light in proportion to its outputand which can be charged anddischarged at a high rate without injury.

The invention will be more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a composite View of my imuproved storage battery, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofFig. l, partly in seetion. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1, partly insection, as indicated by line X in Fig. 1. Fig. t is a side view of acomplete battery wherein three grids are employed, it also shows eachtubular element connected to charging' and discharging mains. Fig'. 5 isa top plan view of Fig. t. Fig. 6 is a frag'- mentary transverse view ofFig. et, showing the method employed in securing the grids to eachother. Fig. 7 shows coupling-keys employed to unite the separate gridsin one structure. Fig'. 8 shows one of the side bars of the frame. Fig.91s an end view of F1g.8. Fig.

10 is a side view of Fig'. 8 and'shows the projections which carry thetubular elements. Figs. 1 1, 12, 13 are also views of side bars of theframe, showing method employed to connect each alternate tubular elementto conducting-main when positive and negative elements are employed inasingle frame or grid. Fig'. lei is a part of the iiexible material ofwhich tube is made showing perforations. Fig'. 15 is an end view of aperforated form of tube, the broken lines indicating how the tube canexpand if internal pressure is applied. Figs. 16 and 17 shows cross-barsemployed in the grid-frame. Fig. 18 isa diagrammatic view of a tive-gridbattery wherein negative and positive electrodes are carried in eachframe or grid. Fig'. 19 is a perspective View of a complete batterycontaining' a single grid, and showing' the preferred form of jai'partly in section. Fig. 2() shows cross-sections of modified tubes whichmay be used.

In general aspects the battery of this application resembles thatdescribed in Letters Patent No. 745,604., issued to me December l, 1903.In the battery of this patent the active material is contained in tubescomposed of porous earthenware mounted in a trame and suitably connectedtogether. In order to provide for the expansion of the active ma teriai,it is mixed with a yielding' substance which would contract with theexpansion of the active material. 1n the battery of this invention thetube is constructed of material which will yield to the internalpressure of the active material and is preferably corrugated for thispurpose.

In the several figures similar characters of reference are employed todesignate identical parts.

5 5 and 6 Grepresentthe frames, composed, preferably, of incombustibleinsulating material, such as impregnated wood or other insulatingmaterial. The conductors 15, which connect the elements, are preferablymade of lead or its alloys. The corrugated and perforated tubes 10 arepreferably constructed of hard vulcanized rubberor celluloid of suchthickness as to yield with the pressure of the material. The activematerial contained within the tubes may be peroxid of lead. Theinclosing medium or casing 1 may be of any acid-proof material-such asglass, Celluloid, or vulcanized r ubber-#and the electrolyte may becomposed of dilute sulfuric acid. These constitute the principal partsof a storage battery embodying' my invention.

1 represents a battery-jar composed of two layers of hard rubber orother material with a layer of textile fabric 2 between in order toprevent breakage. In batteries used for traction purposes thisconstruction is especially advantageous.

3 represents a frame carrying the elements 4. Each frame 3 comprises theside bars 5 5 and end bars 6 6, composed of porcelain or other inertmaterial. As may be seen in Fig. 1, the end bars are dovetailed into acorresponding socket in the ends of the side bars. Each side bar 5 has agroove 7 in its back face and carries lugs or projections 8 on its frontor inside face. The lugs 8 may be shaped to correspond with thecross-section of the tubes 9, so as to center the tubes and form asupport to prevent lateral movement'. Each element comprises an outercorrugated tube 10, which is held in position by the lugs 8 and the sidebars 5 5. It will be seen that the tube is closed in such a manner thatit is free to expand and contract without permitting the active materialto escape. This end closure at the same time may form a support for thetube, as herein shown. These tubes are so constructed as to beexpansible when the active material contained therein expands and tocontract to its original form when the internal stress is removed. Tothis end I propose to construct the tubes of thin celluloid, rubber, orother material not attacked by the electrolyte which will yield to theinternal stresses in the active material occurring in charging anddischarging. In case celluloid or similar impervious material is used itwill of course be perforated, as shown in Fig. 14, so as to bring theelectrolyte into contact with the active material, the essential featurebeing that the tube act merely as a retaining means for the activematerial and interfere with the access of the electrolyte thereto aslittle as possible. By corrugating the tube,

as herein shown, a considerable degree of ex pansion can be secured,depending upon the number and depth of the corrugations and also aconstant area of surface. It will be obvious that an expansible tube maybe constructed in other ways than by corrugating it, and Fig. 2O showsmodifications of tubes which may be used. Another feature of advantageresulting from the use of corrugated tubes resides in the fact that alarge increase in surface is secured which enables this battery to havea very high charging and discharging rate as there will be no danger ofinjuring the electrodes on account of too large input or output, and thedistortion is taken up in such a manner as not to affect the elements.

Each of the lugs 8 is centrally bored in order to receive aconducting-rod 13. This rod is preferably made of carbon because of itsgreater conductivity for a given weight than lead or other metals whichcould be used.

14 is a lead or alloy wire which may be placed in the carbon-core, sothat in case of breakage of the core the circuit will not beinterrupted. The lead wire is protected from corrosion by the carbonrod. As has been before stated, each of the side frames has a groove 7preferably dovetailed, as shown, into which the ends of the rods 13project.

15 is a conductor which connects all of the rods 13 of like polarity.The conductor 15 is preferably molded or melted into the groove 7, so asto form close contacts with the rods 13. The conductor may be molded inpaste form, composed of powdered carbon and a binding material, thelatter being afterward electrically carbonized, or a fusible metal maybe run in the groovel and afterward covered with insulation whereexposed to the acid. ln this manner a good contact is formed between therods and the conductor 15, and itis not subject to deterioration orattack by the electrolyte or electrolytic action. The frames may allcontain elements of like polarity, in which case only one side frameneed carry the conductor 15, or the elements may alternate in polarity,in which case the opposite conductors 15 will have opposite polaritiesand connect alternate elements.

Figs. et, 5, and 6 show elements of like polarity connected on bothsides, thereby securing more even distribution of the current. In thiscase the wire in the carbon rod may be dispensed with. It will benoticed that where a frame carries elements of opposite polarities onlythose rods of like polarity project through on the same side of theframe. There it is desired to group a number of frames together to formlarge units, it is desirable to couple the frames together, and this canbe done by means of dovetail keys 19, which can be set into suitablerecesses in the side bars (see Fig. 14) to lock as many as may bedesired together.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have devised abattery which will contain a minimum of metal and be light in weight. Ihave also described a battery which will be capable of a high chargingand discharging rate, because of the expansible tubes, with consequentincreased durability, without danger of injuring the electrodes. Thedestruetible parts are also reduced to a minimum, and in rebuilding thebattery but few new parts, aside from the active material, would have tobe supplied.

The invention is capable of modiiications and changes without departingfrom its scope, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the eX- actconstruction I have shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a secondary battery, an electrode comprising an cXpansible tubeand a conducting'- rod of non-metallic material having a metallic core,embedded in said material, substantially as described.

2. In a secondary battery, the combination with a noneonducting frame,of electrodes mounted therein and having conducting portions projectingthrough one side of the frame, a conductor molded around said projectingends, said frame having' means for holding said conductor in position,substantially as described.

3. In a secondary battery, the combination of a plurality of frameshaving electricallyconnected elements mounted therein, and dovetail keysfor coupling' said frames side by side, substantially as described.

4. In a secondary battery, the combination of a non-conducting framehaving` inwardlyprojecting lugs on opposite sides, a tube into whichsaid lugs are inserted to hold it against lateral movement, and activematerial carried in said tube, substantially as described.

5. In a secondary battery, the combination of a frame havinginwardly-projecting lugs on opposite sides, a tube mounted on said lugsand held thereby against lateral movement, active material contained insaid tube, and a tconducting-rod embedded in said active material andhaving its ends held by said lugs, substantially as described.

6. In a secondary battery, the combination of a frame having'inwardly-projecting corrugated lu gs on opposite sides, a corrugatedtube mounted on said lugs and held thereby against lateral movement, andactive material contained in said tube, substantially as described.

7. In a secondary battery, the combination of a frame having in wardlyq'irojecting lugs on opposite sides, an expansiblc tube mounted on saidlugs and held thereby against lateral movement, and active materialcontained in said tube, substantially as described.

8. In a secondary battery, the combination of a frame having' in ward]y-projecting lugs on opposite sides, an expansible tube mounted on saidlugs and held thereby against lateral movement, active materialcontained in said tube, and a conducting-rod embedded in said activematerial, substantially as described.

9. In a secondary battery, the combination of a frame, tubes mounted insaid frame and containing active material, composition conducting-rodscomposed of metallic and nonmetallie material embedded in said activematerial, and means carried by the frame connecting the conducting-rodsof like polarity with the terminals of the battery, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a secondary battery, the combination of a non-conducting frame,tubes mounted in said frame and containing active material, conductorsembedded in said material and projecting' into the side of the frame,and a conductor molded around said conductors and connecting theelements, substantially as described.

l1. In a secondary battery, an electrode comprising an expansible tube,active material inclosed in said tube, and a conducting'- rod composedof carbon and a lead wire embedded in said material, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a secondary battery, the combination with oppositely-disposedside bars, of a series of elements carried thereby, a conducting-rod ineach elemcnthaving its ends projecting into said side bars, andconductors carried in said side bars, adapted to electrically connectthe conducting-rods, and mechanically hold the same in the side bars,substantially as described.

13. A battery element comprising a nonconductingframe, a plurality ofcorrugated resilient tubes mounted therein,each tube containing activematerial and a conducting-rod, and a cond uctor carried by the frame andconnected with said conducting-rods 1n the tubes, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I a liix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUS'IAVE K. HARTUNG.

Witnesses:

JULIAN S. 'oos'rian, Geenen N. Kuna.

